What happened
On 16 October 2002, a Cessna F152, registration G-WACB, was engaged in a private flight at Wycombe Air Park, Marlow. The flight was a significant milestone for the pilot, a student with 23 total flying hours, as it marked their first solo circuit.
Weather conditions at the time were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot conducted a standard approach to the grass runway 35 with landing flaps extended. During the landing sequence, the aircraft bounced upon contact with the surface. Rather than initiating a go-around or taking corrective measures to recover from the bounce, the aircraft subsequently struck the ground nose-first. This impact resulted in the nose landing gear breaking away from the airframe.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and examined the flight history. It was noted that prior to this solo attempt, the student had completed four circuits on the same grass runway accompanied by an instructor. During those previous sessions, which included one low-altitude go-around, the student's performance had been rated as acceptable. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the pilot's decision-making following the initial bounce.